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However, Donal Lawler, counsel for both defendants, told the court: 'She suffers from emphysema and other problems and she is ill again today.

Deliberate hounding: John Lee, left, Bellfield's stepfather is with his wife allegedly harrassing Emma Mills, the former partner of Bellfield, right

'At this stage we are not too certain what the health situation is going to be going forward.'

Bellfield and 72-year-old Lee are jointly charged under section two of the Protection from Harassment Act 1977 that between September 14 last year and January 7 this year, at Esher in Surrey, they pursued a course of conduct which amounted to harassment of Emma Mills, and which they knew or would have known amounted to harassment.

The charge specifies that on September 14 they 'deliberately drove past the home address of Emma Mills', an act allegedly repeated three days later and then again on two unspecified occasions between September 27 and 29.

On January 5 this year they were apparently spotted in Farm Road, in Esher, close to Emma Mill’s home and also near to Esher High School, where one of the victim’s children was a pupil at the time.

Two days after that they were alleged to have been near the home of Emma Mills’ mother, Gillian.

Mr Lawler asked for magistrates to proceed with the case against Lee but adjourn the matter in Bellfield’s case so that defence solicitors could consult with her doctors and try to get instructions from her.

Killed by Levi Bellfield: Milly Dowler, left, who was 13 years old, and Marsha McDonnell, right, who was 19

'At this stage our instructions are she’s not well enough to attend court. My understanding at the moment is she’s effectively housebound and she relies on breathing equipment,' he told the bench.

In the only allusion to the defendant’s son’s role in the matters, Mr Lawler said: 'The background of all of this is very traumatic, as I’m sure you’re aware.'

Darren Matravers, prosecuting at Staines Magistrates Court, Surrey, said he had no objection in principle to the proposed course of action.

Presiding Magistrate Malcolm Bond ordered that a trial date be set down for July 2, at Staines, to be continued on July 5.

He released Lee on bail on the same conditions as before.

Both Lee and Bellfield, who live together in Feltham, Middlesex, are banned from entering four named roads in Esher and from contacting Miss Mills, her mother and a neighbour, all of whom are prosecution witnesses.

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Levi Bellfield: Mother and stepfather to stand trial for harrassing his ex-girlfriend